Thank you for your enquiry regarding our arrangements to support rough sleepers during the cold weather.
I can confirm that when temperatures fall below zero in London on any day we activate our Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) for rough sleepers. The protocol sets out the arrangements we put into place to ensure that all rough sleepers have support and access to emergency accommodation during extreme cold weather. This includes ensuring that we have sufficient rooms in John Wilkes House hostel and our emergency accommodation provision for rough sleepers. Under this protocol, we work with partner agencies to carry out prompt action to ensure all rough sleepers have the opportunity to access shelter. This includes working with our partners to share intelligence on anyone rough sleeping and ensuring that we have sufficient emergency accommodation available for any rough sleepers found by our outreach workers. Outreach sessions are stepped up to engage with rough sleepers, carry out welfare checks and offer them emergency accommodation.
Any rough sleepers housed during SWEP are supported under the “in for good” principle. This means that we will carry out a needs assessment for all rough sleepers and agree a support plan and move on plan to support them into a settled home wherever possible.
i have attached a copy of our rough sleeping SWEP protocol for further details.
I hope the above information is helpful. However, if you require any further information, please do not hestitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,